Tube-closing machine



I. W. WEPPLO.

TUBE CLOSING MACHIEJE. APPLICATION FILED NOV-10,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I. W. WEP PLO. TUBE CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-10, 1919.

1A%&6% Patented July 11, 1,.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

23 19/7/76 14/ m/fppw fl w a w fikr fimm I. W. WEPPLO. TUBE CLOSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV-10,1919.

1,422,644}, Patented July 11, 1922'.-

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I. W. WEPPLO.

TUBE CLOSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1919.

Lfiggfi j l Patented. July U 1922 5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

[27 2/67? for [smqc \A/ WEPPL 0 I. W. WEPPLO.

TUBE CLOSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1919.

1,422,64, Patented July 111, 11922.,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' I //v|/5/v THE F Fig.7 IEFIHE IALNEF'FLEI Eva-@O HIS F/ TT'URNEY ISAAC W. WEPPLO, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TUBE-CLOSING MACHINE T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IsAAo W. WErPLo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tube-Closing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to collapsible containers, such as paste, glue or paint tubes, and refers more particularly to devices for closing and sealing the bottom end of such tubes after filling.

Collapsible tubes of the/\kind specified visually have at one end the discharge orifice, closed by a screw-cap. The opposite, bottom end is left open untilthe tube has been filled, whereupon the bottom edges are pressed together and folded over twice, thereby sealing the bottom end. As such tubes usually are made of very thin and soft metal it occurs frequently that the said sealed bot-- tom unfolds when excessive pressure is ap plied to the tube, whereupon its contents are apt to run outand be wasted. For this reason it had become good practice to set a clip over the folded end and to press the said clip well into the soft metal, and in'this manner it is found Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention,'

Figure 2 is a plan view of certain important elements removed from the machine, 1

Figure 3 shows the same elements as they would appear when beheld from behind the machine of Figure 1 Figure 4 illustrates one of the members of Fig. 2, but in a dilferentposition,

Figure 5 illustrates adjusting devices, the importance of which will hereinafter ap Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented .nny' ii, 1922.

flpplication filed November 10, 1919. Serial No. 337,007.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the folding mechanism shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on a line A-A of Fig. 1, when viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Referring in the first instance to Figure 1, the numeral 1 denotes a frame within which a turntable 2 is mounted to rotate, and

the said table is provided with axially direct- 3, next the tube 3 and last the tube.3 The.

said tube 3 is shown entering a mechanism 4, 1n which its. upper edge becomes flattened and folded over. Thence the tubes advance to the position indicated at 3, within a mechanism 5 for pressing a clip on the folded edge, after which operation the finished tube is removed from the machine.

Themechanism 5 com rises two elements mounted on slides 6 and respectively, and the said slides are placed in continued alignment and are operated'to oscillate in j opposite directions through suitable devices, such as a. pair of pivotally fixed rocker'arms 8, 9, havinga toothed end in mesh with toothed racks 10, 11 of the said slides. The-upper ends of said rocker arms have projecting studs engaging a pair of cams 12, 13, of a camshaft 14.

"It is well to mention at this point that the turntable is given an intermittent movement in order that each container may stop long enough to be operated upon by the mechanisms 4 and "5,, whereas the camshaft is caused to rotate continuously so that the ele- '.ments of the said mechanisms 4 and 5 oscil-' late continually in synchronism with the said turntable.

The slide 6.is shaped to receive a frame 15 (see also Figs. 2, 3 and 4), carrying a 'pair of pivotally fixed gauges 16 and 17, and the said frame is held in place by suitable devices, such as a set screw 18. The function of the said gauges will 'now be explained. As above mentioned, the container is closed and folded while passing through called to a beveled surface 15, above the the elements 4, after leaving which it travels toward the mechanism 5. During this travel of the container a clip 20 is deftly dropped on to the folded top edge, without disturbing the position of the container withinits socket, and it is all-important that no disturbance occur, as otherwise'a collision with the parts of the mechanism 5 will follow, and the container-will be ruined. But it is not humanly possible to drop the clip so perfectly into place that the ends of the clip coincide with the ends of a fold; contrariwise, the clip always overhangs more pr less, one way or the other, as the container passes into the said mechanism 5.

The gauge 17 is turned on its pivot to open or close by extraneous elements and it is held in any position by the light pressure of suitable friction devices such as a coils'pring 22. The gauge 16, on the other hand, is held normally open by yielding elements, such as a coil spring 23, so that the tube is free to pass into the mechanism. The slide 7 carries a frame 25 having a front surface 25 -directly opposite a similar surface 15 of the frame 15. Above the said surface 25 is mounted, on a plurality of fixed studs 26, a sliding shoe 27, and the said shoe is constantly urged forward by suitable spring elements 28. The said shoe has a heel 27 which, when the slides draw together, during the entering movement of the container, reaches the inner arms 16 17 of the gauges, and draws the said gauges into closed position at the same moment the container comes to rest Within the mechanism. As stated above, the clip 20 overhangs the container, and the closing movement of the gauges operates to slide the said clip into central position. While the container now remains at a standstill, the slides 6, 7 continue to draw together until the faces 15 25 touch the sides of the clip and press" the latter tightly around the folded edge of the container. Attention is face 15*,and-this beveled surface rides over the top of the clip for the purpose. of pressing the latter securely in place on the container fold. f

The slidesfi, 7 now commence to draw apart, but actuated by the spring 28, the shoe 27 still keeps the gauges closed until the limit of movement of the said shoe is reached, and theface 27* commences to recede from the inner gauge arms 16*, 17 Simultaneously the turntable commences to move, and the container moving with it commences to swing the gauge 17 out of the way. Soon the rear edge -of the container passes the said gauge and simultaneously the latter is operated upon by a lever 30 to swing into closed position during the remaining short movement of the slide 6, and for this purpose the said lever 30 is made with a heel 30, which strikes a portion of the machine frame 1. It is noted that the gauge 17 is hung on a pivot 31, and that the said pivot is squared to receive the gauge. At the bottom the stud 31 is made with a short arm 31*, which is acted upon by the end of the lever 30 to close the gauge.

From the above description it is seen that the gauge 17 remains normally closed. Suppose now that a container is entering the mechanism, as indicated in Fig. 2, with the clip 20 overlapping. It is evident that the said clip will strike the gauge 17 before the container comes to rest, and in thus striking, it-will be pushed toward its correct central position on' the container. .The impact of the collision will also cause the said gauge to open slightly, but this is immaterial asthe subsequent positive operation of closing the gauges will complete the adjustment.

Reference is now invited to Figs. 5 and 6, which are enlarged views of the portion of the machine .carrying the folding elements 4. Fig. 5 is rear elevation and Fig. 6 a front elevation, both substantially in agree ment with Fig. 1. A pair of rocker arms 35, 36 are pivoted at the to of the machine frame, and they carry stu s 57, 58, which in turn ride in the grooves of a pair of cams 37, 38. Said arms are, at their lower ends connected to reciprocate a pair of slides 48, 49, which carry devices for folding the tube 3. On the slide 48 is mounted a yielding piece 53, which is normally held projected, as shown in Fig. 1, and above the slide is pivotally hung a lever 52, the forward end of which is bent downward-to form arounded hook. The slide 49, carries a bellcrank 50, the upper arm of which'is' perforated to receive a stud 59 seated in the machine frame. The rocker arm 35 and the bellcrank 50 are both pivotally connected with the slide 49, in which manner said rocker arm operates on-the slide 49 to move the bellcrank. Similarly the rocker arm 36 has direct control over the, movement uof the slide 48.

The operation of the folding mechanism is as follows. The tube 3 reaches the position indicated inF'ig. 1 while the slides are drawing together, and the end of the bellcrank and of the bar 53 first come into conmaze la on the machine frame it follows that the commencement of the retracting movement first of all causes said bellcrank to drop out of the way. Further movement causes the hook of the lever 52 to ride back on top of the bar 53, and the parts then withdraw entirely from the tube. In order to obtain a double fold this operation is repeated.

After the first folding operation is completed it is necessary to maintain the turntable stationary during the second folding operation, and it is also required to elevate the tube in order. to bring it into the proper relation to the folding elements as a preliminary to such second folding operation. Such mechanism is well known in tube closing machines of the type herein consid ered, and for this reason it is only briefly described. On the end of the cam shaft 14 is rigidly afiixed a gear wheel intermeshing with a second gear wheel 61, and the latter is twice the size of the former. Concentrically mounted to rotate with the wheel 61 is an annular cam 62, and this cam is provided with two peripheral surfaces 62 62 of substantially the same length, but the radius of the former is somewhat longer than that of the latter. A bell crank 63 is at one end provided with a roller 64, which is mounted to ride on the cam 62 and yieldingly maintained in engagement with the cam by a spring 65, which latter extends from a support bracket 66. In the opposite end of the bell crank is a pin 67, which is seated in a slide 68 for the purpose of raising and lowering this slide. On the latter. is adjustably fixed a shoe 69 having an inclined projection 69*.

One revolution of the cam shaft 14 completes a fold, and a revolution of the cam carrying gear 61 completes a double fold. During the first folding operation the slide is held lowered and it is elevated for the second fold. Adjacent to and rigid with the gear 61 is a toothed sector 70 and an an nular disc 71, and these parts form, together with a pinion 72 and an integral disc 73,' both of the turntable drive shaft 75, a Geneva movement imparting intermittent movement to said turntable, as required for the purpose of the two folding operations.

In. each rocker-arm is journaled a stud 39 carrying a laterally projecting rod 39 On the opposite side of the machine frame are pivoted a pair of pendent bars 4Q, 41, in which are journaled a pair of blocks 42, and the latterare perforated to receive the said. rods 39*. The rods are slidable in the said blocks for adjustment, and are then clamped in position by suitable means such. asby slotting the blocks and drawing the slotted portion together by clamping screws 43. In the manner descri ed a parallel movement is provided, whereby the pendent bars 40, 41

are compelledto follow the movement of the rocker-arms 35, 36. The said bars terminate in cylindrical shanks 40 41 on which are clamped a pair of shoes 44:, 45.

The folding elements 4 have a way of jerking the container out of alignment in its socket, and they do not always close the fold tightly enough to permit of placing the clip on the container, as described, and it is for the purpose of correcting these defects that the adjusting devices just described are introduced. The parts are so positioned that the container enters the path of travel of the shoes 44, 45 at the time the latter draw together, and the parts are correctly adjusted to cause the said shoes to turn the fastening machine, the combination with a tube carrying turntable, a cam shaft "relatively timed and a folding mechanism operated from said cam shaft; of devices operated by the cam shaft and co-operating to align, seat and press'a clip over the fold of c the tube after the clip has been loosely dropped on the tube.

2. In a collapsible tube closing and clip fastening machine, a pair of slides, means for alternately drawing said slides together and apart, a springheld shoe on one slide, an adjustable member on the other slide, a pair of gauges on said member shaped to be operated upon by said shoe to close around a tube carrying a clip as the slides draw together, said adjustable member having an inclined surface riding over the clip in order to press the latter down on the tube.

3. In a. collapsible tube closingand clipfastening machine, the combination with tube closing and'folding elements, of devices for aligning the tube after folding, devices for aligning the clip on the tube, and elements for pressing the clip around the fold of the tube.

4. In a collapsible tube closing and clip fastening machine, the combination with elements for folding the ed e of the tube,

of devices for aligning the 0 1p on the tube, said devices comprising, a slide, a pair of gauges pivoted on the said slide, a second slide, a yielding member on the latter and positioned to engage and close the said gauges, and elements for actuating the said slides.

5. Ina collapsible tube closing and clip fastening machine, acam shaft, folding eleanism, and devices actuated by the said cam shaft to operate the said folding elements and the clip aligning and fastening mechanism.

6. In a collapsibletube sealing and clipfastening machine, the combination with folding elements and a cam shaft actuating said folding elements, of devices operated by the'said cam shaft for aligning a clip which has been loosely placed on the tube.

7. In a collapsible tube sealing and clip fastenin machine, the combination witha cam shaft operating folding elements, of devices operated-by the said cam shaft for aligning the loosely placed clips on the tubes, .and co-operating elements for settling the said clips in sitionon the tubes and for pressing the c ips tightly in place on the tubes.

8. In a machine of the type referred to, the combination with means for carrying tubes through the machine and cams rotat-- able in timed relation to said tube carrier; of tube folding means, tube aligning means, means for aligning, seating and clamping clips .on the aligned tubes, and means actuated by said cams and connected to operatesaid tube folding and aligning'means and the said clip aligning seating and clamping means.

9..In a tube closing and clip fastening machine, a horizontal turn table carrying receptacles for the tubes to be closed, a horizontal cam shaft above the said table, power folding aligning and seating operations.

. 10. In a machine of the character described, the combination with mechanism for closing the open" end of .collapsible tubes by flattening and folding the end, of adjustable means operated by said foldingmechanism for pressing the folds tightly together, said means simultaneously operating to align the tubes for furtheroperations.

12. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a'- tube carrying turn table and tube closing mechanism, of a pair of slides placed to reciprocate in the line of travel of the tubes on the table, .said

slides carrying members for aligning clips placed on thetubes and provided with elements for pressing the clips tightly over the fold of the tubes the moment the clips have been properly aligned.

13. In a cdllapslble'tube closing machine, a cam carrying shaft, arms engaging two of the cams nd connected to operate tube closing and olding elements, means oper able by said arms 'for. aligning the tubes after folding, arms engaging a second pair of the cams and connected to reciprocate a plair of slides, and meaiais on said slides for ai nin de ressin an ti htenin c'li s on the 0156a tin of t he tube s g p I 14. In a device of the character described, a pair of reciprocatory slides, elements on one slide for aligning a clip on a tube, a member on the other slide for engaging said elements to align the clip, and co-operating devices on the two slides for depressing and closing the clip on the tube.

15. In a device of'the character specified, a pair of reciprocating slides, clip depressingand closing members attachable to said slides and elements carried by said mem bers or aligning the clips prior to the depressing and closing operatlon.

ISAAC W. WEPPLO. 

